Tubular-magazine repeating firearm



' Get 119, 1937. F. F. BURTON ET AL. 2,096,028

TUBULAR MAGAZINE REPEATING FIREARM Filed Jan; 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Get 19, 1937.

F. F. BURTON ET AL.

TUBULAR MAGAZINE REPEATING FIREARM 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.

Get. 119, 1937. BURTON AL Z,@96,028

TUBULAR MAGAZINE REPEATING FIREARM Filed Jan. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Get. 19, 1937. F. F. BURTON El AL TUBULAR MAGAZINE REPEATING FIREARM Filed Jan. 6, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WWW Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNHTED STATES "ATENT OFFICE TUBULAR-MAGAZIN E REPEATIN G FIREARM Frank F. Burton, Mount Carmel, and Arthur A.

Rowley, Hamden,

Conn, assignors to Win- Application January 6,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in repeating firearms and particularly to tubularmagazine repeating firearms.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a firearm of the type referred to, having a superior construction and arrangement of parts, whereby cartridge-cases are ejected in such manner as to afford minimum annoyance and danger to the user of the arm.

Another object is to provide a convenient and reliable firearm of the type referred to having provision for diverting the burnt-powder material in such direction as to minimize the danger and annoyance to both the user of the arm and bystanders.

A further object is to provide a firearm of the type referred to, having superior means for feeding cartridges from the magazine into the cartridge-chamber.

A still further object is to provide superior means for the extraction and ejection of cartridge-cases from the cartridge-chamber.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken view in side elevation. of one form which a tubular-magazine repeating fire- 30 arm may assume in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken view thereof, partly in vertical central-longitudinal section, showing the parts in the positions which they occupy immediately 35 after the firing of the cartridge;

Fig. 3 is a broken view in horizontal section, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; V

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in the positions which they assume during the process of ejecting a cartridge- 45 case from the arm;

Fig. '7 is a view in horizontal section, corresponding to Fig. 3 save that the parts are shown in the positions which they have assumed in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a. view corresponding to Figs. 2 and 6, but showing the parts in the positions which they assume just prior to the feeding of a fresh cartridge into the cartridge-chamber of the arm;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8;

1934, Serial No. 705,530

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line ifilil of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a View in side elevation of the breechbolt, detached;

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view, taken on 5 the line l2l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a broken view in elevation of the breech-bolt, viewing the same from the direction of the arrow [3 in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a view mainly in side elevation and partly in vertical-central section of the framebody of the arm, together with a portion of the butt-stock;

Fig. 15 is a sectional View, taken on the line l5l5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a similar view, taken on the line l6i6 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 1'7 is a perspective View of the combined cartridge-ejector-and-retainer, detached;

Fig. 18 is a similar view of the cartridge-detent; 20

Fig. 19 is a corresponding View of the extractor;

Fig. 20 is a broken view in vertical centrallongitudinal section of the portion of the firearm adjacent the fore-stock;

Fig. 21 is a. transverse sectional View taken on the line 2l-2l of Fig. 20; and

Fig. 22 is a top or plan View of the operatingplunger detached.

The embodiment of the present invention herein chosen for illustration includes a frame-body 25 having a mechanism-receiving chamber 26 therein, opening laterally on one side, as clearly indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. The said frame-body is provided with a usual trigger-guard 2'! and is secured to the forward end of a butt-stock 28.

Fitting over the frame-body 25, above referred to, and forming together therewith a complete frame for the arm, is a frame-cover 29 of inverted U-shaped form in cross-section, and having attached to its forward end the usual barrel 3!! and fore-stock 3|.

Extending diagonally forwardly and upwardly through the butt-stock 28 is a tubular-magazine 32 intersecting at its forward end the upwardlyand-forwardly-sloping rear end 33 of a cartridgedelivery passage 34, extending longitudinally of the frame-body 25 and opening for the major portion of its length through the upper surface thereof. The open upper side of the passage 34 is normally closed by the frame-cover 29, before referred to.

Extending through the magazine-tube 32 and on occasion extending into the cartridge-delivery passage 3 of the frame, is a spring-pressed fiexible cartridge-follower 35, serving to feed a cartridge-column composed. of a series of cartridges 36, forwardly through the cartridge-delivery passage 34 of the frame-body 25 for successive delivery into the cartridge-chamber 37 in the rear end of the barrel 30.

The forward end of the cartridge-delivery passage 34 is provided with a downwardly-and-forwardly-sloping bullet-guide surface 38 serving to deflect the bullet end of each of the cartridges 36 downwardly and forwardly toward the cartridge-chamber 31, before referred to. Complementing the bullet-guide surface 33 and located a suitable distance to the rear thereof, is a pair of rim-guide surfaces 3939, located on the respective opposite side-walls of the cartridge-delivery passage 34 and preferably formed by boring diagonally through the metal, so as to cause the said rim-guide surfaces to conform substantially in transverse curvature to the rims of the cartridges 3b.

Interposed in the downwardly-and-forwardlysloping path through which'each successive cartridge must pass under theguidance of the surfaces 38 and 39, is the nose 40 of a horizontallyarranged plate-like combined cartridge-ejectorand-retainer 4!, located in a longitudinal groove 42 formed in the side of the upper portion of the frame-body 25. The member 4 l just referred to, is mounted in the groove 42 with capacity for swinging movement laterally of the arm by means of a vertical pivot-pin 43, and is swung laterally by a helical spring 44 seated in an outwardlyopening spring-pocket 45 in the frame-body 25, and bearing at its outer end against a tailpiece 46 offsetting from the said member 4|.

The spring 44, just above referred to, serves to swing the combined cartridge-ejector-and-retainer 4| in a direction required to yieldingly extend the nose 40 thereof inwardly through a clearance-passage 41 laterally interconnecting the groove 42 and the forward end of the cartridgedelivery passage 34. The projection of the nose 40 of the member 41, as just described, serves to interpose the sloping cam-like ejecting-surface 48 formed on the said nose 40 into the path of rearward travel of cartridge-cases 49 as the same are extracted from the cartridge-chamber 3'1 of the barrel 3!], in the manner as will be hereinafter described.

By reference to Figs. 8, 9 and 14 in particular, it will be seen that immediately below and to the rear of the clearance 41, the frame-body is formed with a forwardly-facing ejection-abutment 5!) for engagement with the rear faces of cartridges in the event that it is desired to remove the same, unfired, from the cartridge-chamber 31.

For the purpose of insuring the one-by-one feeding of the cartridges 36 for movement forwardly and downwardly along the inclined guidesurfaces 38 and 39 and ultimately into the cartridge-chamber 31, a radially-reciprocating cartridge-detent 5| is provided, having its inner end automatically advanced into and retired from the path of travel of the cartridges 36 in the cartridge-delivery passage 35 in the frame-body 25. The said cartridge-detent5l is of cylindrical form, having at its outer end a laterally-offsetting head 52, and reciprocates in a passage 53 extending through the upper portion of the framebody 25 in a direction radially downwardly and outwardly with respect to the cartridge-delivery passage 34, as shown in Fig. 5.

The head 52 of the reciprocating cartridgedetent 5i projects beyond the adjacent portion 'Figs. 3 and '7.

of the frame-body 25 for being alternately engaged by a detent-advancing cam-surface 54 and V a complementary inclined detent-retracting camsurface 55 formed in the upper right-hand corner of a breech-bolt 56 mounted for reciprocation within the mechanism-receiving chamber 26 of the frame-body 25. The cam-surrfaces 54 and 55, just referred to, are parallel and sloped diagonally from front to rear, as clearly shown in The detent-advancing cam-surface 54 has extending forwardly from it an upwardly-facing detent-holding surface 51, and the complementary detent-retracting cam-surface 55 has rearwardly extending from it a downwardlyfacing detent-holding surface 58, all as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 7 of the drawings.

Mounted and staked in a longitudinal groove 59 formed in the upper surface of the breechbolt 53, is a forwardly-and-upwardly-sloping flexible cartridge-pusher 66. The forward end of the said cartridge-pusher 66 is substantially flush with the frontor breech-face SI of the breechbolt 56, and is adapted for successive engagement with the rear faces of the cartridges 36 in the cartridge-delivery passage 34 for successively feeding the said cartridges, one for each cycle of movement of the said breech-bolt, into the cartridge-chamber 37.

A plate-like extractor 63 is carried by the breech-bolt 56, for the purpose of removing cartridges 36 and cartridge-cases 49 from the cartridge-chamber 3! of the barrel 36 for ultimate ejection outwardly and downwardly through an ejection-passage 62 leading outwardly and down wardly from the forward end of the chamber 26 and opening through the right side-wall of the frame-cover 29. The extractor 63 has an obliquely-disposed forward end 64 and a rearwardly-facing extracting-hook 65, and is formed at the end thereof, opposite the said extractor-hook, with a cylindrically-contoured pivot-head 66, as clearly shown in Fig. 19. The hooked forward end of the said extractor 63 projects forwardly through a longitudinal bore 6'! opening through the forward face 6| of the breech-bolt 56. portion of the bore 61 intersects a shallow transversely-oblique cylindrical bore 68 extending at a right angle to the axis of the said bore 61 and terminating in an undercut 68 shaped and sized to conform to the curvature of the cylindricallycontoured pivot-head 66 of the extractor 63 to provide a socket therefor in which the said pivothead may rock.

For the combined purpose of retaining the said extractor in place in the breech-bolt 56 and of urging its extractor-hook inwardly for successive engagement with cartridge-rims, a headed plunger 63 is mounted in the rear portion of the longitudinal bore 6'! in the breech-bolt and is urged into engagement with a rearwardly-facing thrust-shoulder '56 formed on the extractor 63 by means of a helical spring H encircling the said plunger and mounted in the rear end of the bore 61, before referred to.

The outwardly-and-downwardly-sloping ejection-passage 62 before referred to has a similarly-sloping ceiling-surface #2 formed in the framecover 29 and is complemented by a similarly-sloping floor-surface 12* also formed in the said frame-cover. When the breech-bolt 56 is in its retired or partly-retired position, the floorsurface 12 just referred to is complemented by a similarly-sloping floor-surface 12 constituting the upper surface of a longitudinal tang 13 formed integral with and forwardly projecting from the The rear breech-face 6| of the breech-bolt 56, and extending forwardly into a longitudinal passage 14 formed in the forward wall 15 of the frameco-ver 29, and substantially conforming in transverse form to the transverse form of the said tang, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. When the breech-bolt 56 is in other than its substantiallyfully-retired position, the tang 13 of the same extends forwardly beyond the passage M in the frame-cover 29 and into a recess it formed in the fore-stock 3!, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 8.

Leading axially forwardly through the forestock 3| is a longitudinal passage Ti having axially mounted in each of its respective opposite ends a guide-bushing 18, each of which is provided with a peripherally-serrated portion 19 adapted for a drive-fit in the material from which the fore-stock 3| is made, so as to be rigidly held in place.

Located in the longitudinal passage 11 in the fore-stock 3| is a tubular operating-plunger 8D bearing adjacent its respective opposite ends in the guide-bushings 18-18 and adapted to have its rear end engaged on occasion with the front end of the tang 13 of the breech-bolt 56 for the purpose of manually retiring the said breechbolt.

The forward end of the operating-plunger 86 normally extends well beyond theforward end of the fore-stock 3| and has its forward end outwardly flanged as at 8| for having crimped over it the edge of a concavo-convex sheet-metal cap 82. The said cap 82 forms an abutment for the forward end of a helical spring 83 housed within the operating-plunger 86 and abutting at its rear end against a screw 84.

The screw 84 has its head seated in an escutcheon 85 mounted in the under face of the fore-stock 3| and extends upwardly through the said fore-stock and through a pair of longitudinal clearance-slots 86-86 respectively formed in the operating-plunger 86 at diametrically-opposite points thereon. The threaded upper end of the screw 84 interengages with a vertically-extending internally-threaded bore 8? formed in a dovetail-shaped retaining-block 8B fitting within a dovetail-groove 69 extending transversely across the under face of the barrel 36.

For the purpose of a clearer understanding of the operation of the firearm herein chosen for illustration, let it be presumed that the breechbolt 56 is in its forward or closed position and that the firearm has just been fired, as indicated in Fig. 2. Immediately upon the firing of the cartridge, the reaction of the powder gases will force the cartridge-case rearwardly, with the effect of similarly moving the breech-bolt 56 and the parts carried thereby.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that the extractor-hook 65 of the extractor 63 is at this time hooked over the rim of the cartridge-case 46 shown in the cartridge-chamber 37 of the barrel 38.

When in the concurrent rearward travel of the breech-bolt 5S and the cartridge-case E9, the rim of the latter engages with the cam-like ejecting-surface 38 of the combined cartridge-ejector-and-retainer 4!, under ordinary circum stances, the forward end of the said cartridgecase d6 will be swung downwardly and outwardly about the extractor-hook 65 as a pivot, with the result that the said cartridge-case is flipped, so to speak, in a downwardly-and-outwardly-directed path substantially corresponding to a line drawn between the extractor-hook 65 and the nose 46 of the member 4|, as indicated in Fig. 9.

In an automatic firearm of the type herein chosen for illustration, it will be appreciated that a certain amount of powder gases and. accompanying ash and other solid matter escapes rearwardly into the forward end of the mechanismreceiving chamber 26 in the frame-body 25 as the forward end of the cartridge-case clears the rear end of the cartridge-chamber 37 in the barrel 36. Such powder gases will expand into the forward end of the chamber 26 and the solid matter carried thereby will be deflected by the surfaces '72, 32 and 12 of the ejection-passage, out from the said passage into a path leading downwardly and laterally outward away from the arm.

Thus, both the cartridge-cases and powder, ash, etc., are discharged from the firearm in such manner as to afford minimum annoyance and danger to the user of the arm.

When the breech-bolt 56 reaches the limit of its rearward travel, which travel is definitely checked by the engagement of the rear end of the said breech-bolt with the rear wall of the mechanism-receiving chamber 26, the forward end of the flexible cartridge-pusher 66, carried by the said bolt, will snap up to a position to engage the rear face of the foremost one of the cartridges 36 in the cartridge-delivery passage 35.

As the breech-bolt 56 moves rearwardly, as above described, the detent-advancing cam-surface 54 thereof will engage with the laterallyoifsetting head 52 of the cartridge-detent 5| and move the same so as to project its opposite end into the path of the rim of the second foremost cartridge 36 in the cartridge-delivery passage 34, to thus prevent the said cartridge from being pushed further fcrwardby the spring-pressed cartridge-follower 35. After the movement of the cartridge-detent 5| is effected, as just described, it will be retained in its inwardly-projected position by the detent-holding surface 5'5.

As soon as the breech-face 6! of the breechbolt 56 has moved rearwardly of the rear end of the foremost one of the cartridges 36 remaining in the cartridge-delivery passage 34, the springpressed flexible follower 35 will, acting through the intermediary of the intervening cartridges,

under ordinary circumstances, force the said foremost cartridge diagonally downwardly and forwardly in the path defined by the bullet-guide surface 36 and the rim-guide surfaces 69-36 until such cartridge is arrested by the engagement of its periphery with the nose 46 of the combined cartridge-e3ector-and-retainer 4!. As thus arrested, the particular cartridge referred to is interposed in the path of forward travel of the breech-face 6| of the breech-bolt 56.

To safeguard against the failure of the springpressed follower 35 to position the foremost one of the cartridges 36, as above described, the flexible cartridge-pusher 60 will act, during the forward movement of the breech-bolt, to move the cartridge in question along'the guide-surfaces 38 and 39.

After the foremost cartridge has been moved, as above described, the breech-face 6! of the breech-bolt 56 will act, during the remainder of the forward movement of the said breechbclt, to continue the movement of the said cartridge along the inclined path described, thus causing the cartridge itself to laterally retire and crowd by the inwardly-projecting nose 46 of the combined cartridge-ejector-and-retainer 4|. Ultimately, the cartridge will be inserted into the cartridge-chamber 3! of the barrel 30 in readiness for the firing of another shot.

It is to be noted in this connection that the nose 40 of the combined cartridge-ejector-andretainer 4| is not forced laterally sufficiently to release its restraint upon the downward movement of the cartridge until the bullet end of the cartridge has been partly entered into the cartridge-chamber 31 of the barrel 30. Thus, the falling of the cartridge into a position too low for ready entry into the said cartridge-chamber 31, is efiectively prevented. It will also be understood that as the cartridge moves downwardly for introduction into the cartridge-chamber 31, the forward end of the extractor E3 likewise serves to prevent the rim-end of the cartridge from falling downwardly at the same time that the forward end thereof is being supported by the entry of the bullet end into the cartridgechamber 31.

As soon, of course, asa cartridge is moved from the forward end of the cartridge-delivery passage 34, as above described, the next succeeding cartridge moves forwardly to take the place of the cartridge just removed and is arrested in its movement by making contact with the inclined guide-surfaces 38 and 39, and the upper surface of the breech-bolt 56. This movement of the next succeeding cartridge, just referred to, is permitted by the retirement of the cartridgedetent 5i, which retirement is effected as the bolt moves into its forward or closed position by the detent-retracting cam-surface 55 on the said bolt and is retained in such retired position by the downwardly-facing detent-holding surface 58.

In the event that it is desired to remove an unfired cartridge from the cartridge-chamber 31, this may be accomplished by manually forcing the operating-plunger 89 rearwardly against the tension of its spring 83, with the eifect of engaging the rear end of the said plunger with the forward end of the tang 13 of the breech-bolt 56 to thus move the said breech-bolt and the parts carried thereby rearwardly. The rearward movement of the breech-bolt will cause the extracting-hook B5 of the extractor 63 to withdraw the unfired cartridge from the cartridge-chamber 31.

As the cartridge moves rearwardly under the pull of the extractor 53, its rim will engage with the cam-like ejecting-surface 48 of the combined cartridge-ej ector-and-retainer 4 i but will be prevented from being flipped outwardly through the ejection-opening 62, owing to the fact that its bullet end is not as yet fully withdrawn from the cartridge-chamber 37. The continued rearward movement of the cartridge will cause the rim of the same to slide along the cam-like ejectingsurface 48 of the member 4!, with the efiect of laterally retiring the nose 49 thereof against the tension of the spring 44. The further rearward movement of the breech-bolt and the unfired cartridge will serve to bring the rear face of the latter into engagement with the ejecting-abutment 50,

by which time the bullet end of the cartridge is fully withdrawn from the cartridge-chamber 31, whereupon the cartridge is flipped downwardly and outwardly through the ejection-passage 62.

'Prior automatic firearms having provision for the upward ejection of the cartridge-cases are open to the very serious objection that not only do the cartridge-cases pass through the line of vision of the user of the arm, but also, there is grave danger of the burnt powder material striking the marksman in the face.

It has also been proposed in the prior art to eject the cartridge-cases horizontally from the arm, and in such a construction, the cartridge cases, while not passing in the line of vision of the shooter, are very apt to strike a bystander. Furthermore, with a horizontally-ejecting firearm, the powder, gas, etc., emerges from the arm at such a height as not only to be disconcerting to the user of the arm, but to afford him actual danger from the burnt powder material.

The prior art also offers examples of firearms which provide for the vertically-downward ejection of the cartridge-cases, but such mode of ejection does not remedy the major defects of the other modes of ejection, above referred to, inasmuch as hot cartridge-cases are very apt to be flipped into the sleeve of the users arm, then employed in supporting the fore-end of the gun, and the portion of his hands extending below the butt-stock are subjected to burning by the powder gases, etc. Furthermore, the clothing of the shooter is subjected to a vertiable barrage of soiled and greasy cartridge-cases and sooty burnt powder products, accompanied by particles of hot grease removed by the gases from the greased cartridges as well as from portions of the mechanism.

By the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown, the ejection of the cartridge-cases, as well as the burnt powder material, from the arm in a direction least objectionable and dangerous to both the user of the arm and a bystander is insured.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than that herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

We claim:

1. In a tubular-magazine repeating firearm, the combination with a frame having an ejectionpassage opening outwardly through its side-wall; of a breech-bolt reciprocating in said frame and provided with a forwardly-projecting tang having its upper surface downwardly and laterally sloping toward the outer terminus of the said ejection-passage and forming a deflecting-surface serving to defiect cartridges therethrough when the said breech-bolt is in its retired position; an extractor; and an ejector; the cartridge-engaging surfaces of both the said extractor and the said ejector cooperating to impinge fired cartridges against the upper surface of the tang of the said breech-bolt for deflection thereby.

2. In a tubular-magazine repeating firearm, the combination with a frame having an ejectionpassage opening outwardly through its side-wall; of a breech-bolt reciprocating in said frame and provided with a forwardly-projecting tang having its upper surface downwardly and laterally sloping toward the. outer terminus of the said ejection-passage and forming a deflecting-surface serving to deflect cartridges therethrough when the said breech-bolt is in its retired position; an extractor having a yielding extractor-hook engageable with a cartridge in the said cartridgechamber at a point materially above the horizontal median line of the outer terminus of the said ejection-passage and materially below the level of the axis of the said cartridge-chamber;

and an ejector having an ejecting-surface positioned to engage a cartridge at a point above the point at which the. said extractor-hook engages the same; the said extractor-hook and the said ejector serving to impinge fired cartridges against the upper surface of the tang of the said breechbolt.

3. In a tubular-magazine repeating firearm, the combination with a frame having an ejectionpassage opening outwardly through its side-wall; of a breech-bolt reciprocating in said frame and provided with a forwardly-projecting tang having its upper surface downwardly and laterally sloping toward the outer terminus of the said ejectionpassage and forming a deflecting-surface serving to deflect cartridges therethrough when the said breech-bolt is in its retired position; a yielding extractor positioned materially above the horizontal median line of the outer terminus of the said ejection-passage and yieldable in a plane obliquely disposed with respect to both the horizontal and vertical planes of the firearm; and ejector-means positioned above the said extractor and engageable with a cartridge at a point substantially-diametrically opposite the outer terminus of the said ejection-passage; the said extractor-hook and the said ejector serving to impinge fired cartridges against the upper surface of the tang of the said breech-bolt.

4. In a tubular-magazine repeating firearm, the combination with the frame thereof; of a breechbolt reciprocating in the said frame and formed with a cylindrically-contoured extractor-receiving pocket; and a plate-like pivotal extractor having a cylindrically-contoured protuberance offsetting from an edge thereof rocking in the said cylindrlcally-contoured extractor-receiving pocket in the said breech-bolt.

5. In a tubular-magazine repeating firearm, the combination with the frame thereof; of a breech-bolt reciprocating in the said frame and formed with a cylindrically-contoured extractorreceiving pocket; a pivotal extractor having a cylindrically-contoured protuberance rocking in the said cylindrically-contoured extractor-receiving pocket in the said breech-bolt and also having a rearwardly-facing thrust-shoulder; and a spring-pressed plunger overhanging the cylindrically-contoured protuberance of the said extractor and engageable with the thrust-shoulder thereof to simultaneously retain the said extraotor in place in the breech-bolt and swing the same laterally.

6. In a repeating firearm, the combination with a frame having an ejection-passage opening laterally therefrom; of extracting and ejecting means cooperating to effect the ejection of spent cartridges through the said ejection-opening; and a breech-bolt reciprocating in said frame and. provided with a forwardly-projecting tang having its upper surface downwardly and laterally sloping toward the outer terminus of the said ejection-passage. and forming a cartridge-deflecting surface when the said breech-bolt is in its retired position.

FRANK F. BURTON. ARTHUR A. ROWLEY. 

